APPLICATION OF CARRYING CAPACITY FOR MANAGEMENT PRACTICE FOR OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL MANAGERS IN MANAGING VISITORS RISK AT COASTAL MANGROVES AREA AT TANJUNG PIAI, JOHOR NATIONAL PARK

Abstract

This research presents the necessity for Carrying Capacity Practice to be implemented in the recreational areas in order to ensure that the safety of the users is well provided by the management of the recreational areas. This research also identified the visitor’s risks and potential hazard during the course of recreational activities in coastal mangroves national park. This study was conducted at the Johor National Park focusing on the recreational visitor’s management at the Tanjung Piai National Park. The data was collected via semi structured interviews with the Tanjung Piai National Park Manager, RAMSAR Manager and the former Tanjung Piai National Park Manager. The data were analyzed using the Nvivo software 11 version. The result indicated that visitors were exposed to the risks due to the uncertain situation of the recreational facilities that were highly exposed to intertidal wave issues and might reduce the reliability of the facilities. Nevertheless, the issue of storm treat could also pose a possible hazard to the visitors and damage to the recreational facilities in the coastal mangroves recreational forest. The limited space during walk on the boardwalk in the coastal mangroves areas also increased the level of difficulty during the emergency situations. Through this observation, this study also proposed the necessity for Carrying Capacity Practice to be implemented in the coastal mangroves national park in order reduce the possibility of hazard to the visitors due to the maximum capacity limit of visitors on the boardwalk facility and to ensure the smoother evacuation process from the national park during the emergency situations.